PESS Postgraduate Student, Karol Dillon discusses his PhD Journey on Bilaterality in Intercounty footballers.

In the almost 12 months since my last update on here, there have been the usual ups and downs someone would expect from a PhD journey!

Beyond the four walls of PESS, in May of 2023 I visited Manchester and the Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network Conference where I presented a poster based on Phase One of the PhD Research. Meeting so many Skill Acquisition Specialists from the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada was hugely informative and invigorating. The highlight was listening to the world-renowned Professor Nicola Hodges detailing her work in skill acquisition in different sports and countries over the years. September entailed an Oral Presentation at the inaugural Sport and Human Performance Research Centre Conference held here in PESS.

Another opportunity which presented itself was teaching 3^rd year Sport Science students in the Autumn Semester under the guidance of the module leader, Dr. Phil Kearney. Additionally, in the last week I spoke to Professor Ian Kenny’s 4^th year Sport Science Biomechanics Students about my research and how it is related to their own studies.

In November I was invited by SHPRC member Dr Jason McGahan (Head of Athletic Performance Kerry GAA) to speak at the Kerry GAA Coaching Conference alongside other SHPRC members and PESS PhD Candidates Niall O’Mahony and Fionn Fitzgerald. To ensure I was not keeping all the secrets to my native county, I also spoke recently to Douglas GAA at a coaching seminar in the club. The important part to these talks is getting a feel from coaches about what part of the research resonates with them. As my two supervisors (Dr. Phil Kearney and Dr. Ian Sherwin) regularly point out, we need to regularly ask how our findings impact coaches and players on the ground.

The research itself has continued to be both challenging and rewarding. Last summer we survey almost 400 male and female Gaelic football development squad players around Ireland. The surveys asked the players about their hand and foot dominance with respect to daily living tasks and Gaelic football specific skills. The survey results will reveal the extent to which laterality may vary according to tasks and the degree of plasticity around dominance. In turn this will inform us about the effect of practice on hand and foot dominance. In parallel to this work, other chapters continue to be drafted and redrafted. This year will bring the final part of the study – an intervention with male and female development squad players. Squads usually begin their formal pitch sessions in April of each year, so time continues to be of the essence!

What I continue to learn about doing a PhD is that the academic research is only one part of process. Communication with outside stakeholders, with your supervisors, project management, cold calling, coping with disappointments – these are all facets of the journey which I believe anyone considering a PhD should be acutely aware of. Continuing to work on a project with no short term endline in sight tests your resilience and determination, but this is why a passion for the topic is paramount. In the moments of self-doubt, your belief in your research and its impact on the wider area of sport will help you persevere. Or ask me again in 12 months!